Unilever cuts ad budget
Anglo-Dutch food, personal care and household products group, Unilever says it is planning to cut advertising costs but has no intentions to reduce its overall publicity spending, a company spokesman has said.
Dutch newspaper Handelsblad said that the company was aiming to cut €120 million from its €1 billion annual publicity budget through a new deal with Mindshare, the global media and advertisement specialist.
A stagnant European market for personal care products is causing many of the leading providers to push their leading brands. American giant P&G has already pledged is currently pushing leading brands such as Dove with major global advertising campaigns.
Jessica simpson sued by Cosmojet
US cosmetics supplier Cosmojet has taken out a lawsuit against pop singer Jessica Simpson and the cometics provider she endorses, Dessert Beauty, claiming it is still owed $200,000 for cosmetics its supplied to the singer's Dessert beauty line.
According to press reports, Dessert Beauty claims that it refused to pay for a portion of a $1 million delivery of products after some were found to be below the quality standards and specifications that it expected.
Simpson has already aired her anger over the lawsuit, claiming she is merely a spokesperson for the products and that she is not responsible for the invoicing and payment of products. A spokesperson for the star said that she was planning to counter sue.
Toxins found in Thai cosmetics
A leading Thai health official has called on the country's cosmetics consumers to be more careful about the cosmetic products they buy, highlighting recent research that indicates with widespread use of banned toxins.
Laboratory tests recently carried out on 37 acne treatments sold in the northern province of Ubon Ratchathani revealed 22 of the products contained banned toxins.
The official said that certain skin whitening products also carried similar risks and that consumers should read labels carefully and try to avoid products that made ambiguous or exaggerated claims.